Gastric Sleeve

Also known as sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery is a weight loss procedure that involves surgically reducing the size of your stomach. This allows you to feel full and satisfied after eating much smaller portions, resulting in rapid weight loss and a long-term change in the way you eat.

Gastric Sleeve Los Angeles

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve is a surgical weight loss procedure that, by reducing the stomach in size, can help an individual to rapidly lose significant amounts of weight. Patients who have undergone this procedure find that they feel full much faster and are satisfied by eating much smaller portions than they were previously accustomed to.

Unlike some surgical weight loss procedures, sleeve gastrectomy does not require any reconnecting or re-routing of the intestines. During a sleeve gastrectomy, a bariatric surgeon simply removes part of the stomach, leaving a portion that resembles a vertical tube or “sleeve,” which is smaller in size than a banana.

In addition, the part of the stomach that is removed is the portion that produces a hunger-stimulating hormone known as ghrelin (pronounced gréll-in). This factor plays a role in helping patients to reduce the amount of food they consume.

How is the Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure done?

The sleeve gastrectomy procedure is most often done using a minimally invasive approach known as laparoscopic surgery. With this method, the entire surgery is conducted using several small surgical instruments and a thin, lighted viewing instrument, all of which are inserted through a few small incisions in the abdomen.

Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy

Provided you qualify, there are many reasons why you might consider sleeve gastrectomy over another surgical weight loss procedure. These include the following:

The procedure can be performed laparoscopically (using a minimally invasive approach).

Minimally invasive means faster recovery and smaller scars.

The procedure does not require disconnecting or re-routing of the intestines.

Stomach can still function normally, which means you can still eat most kinds of foods, just in smaller portions.

The part of the stomach that produces hunger-stimulating hormones is removed.

Does not cause dumping syndrome, which some other types of surgical weight loss procedures can bring about.

Am I candidate for Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Sleeve gastrectomy is not for everyone dealing with weight loss issues. There are certain specific requirements one must meet in order to qualify. The procedure is generally reserved for adults with a BMI of 40 or higher, or individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher who also have at least one other obesity-related health condition. (Click here to learn more about qualifying for weight loss surgery)

Our team of expert physicians here at The Weight Loss Surgery Center of Los Angeles can answer any questions you may have and help you determine whether sleeve gastrectomy is right for you.

Best Gastric Sleeve Surgeons in Los Angeles & Beverly Hills

If you are interested in or considering gastric sleeve surgery in Los Angeles, you have come to the right place. Our highly experienced and knowledgeable medical staff is ready and waiting to help you begin your weight loss journey today.

What can I expect during gastric sleeve surgery?

Your gastric sleeve surgery preparations will begin during your initial complimentary consultation with Dr. David Davtyan. During that meeting, the two of you will review your medical history and the difficulties you’ve faced losing weight in the past. From there, you will undergo dietary, lifestyle and health counseling, which will prepare you for surgery and provide you with the tools you’ll need to achieve success. This pre-surgery period is critical, as it will ensure that your mindset and lifestyle support your weight loss goals.

During this complimentary consultation, you will also learn about other weight loss surgery options, along with the various risks and benefits. Further, you will also see patient testimonials and before & after photos of Dr. David Davtyan’s actual patients, who successfully lost their excess weight after weight loss surgery.

Gastric sleeve is a minimally-invasive procedure that’s performed by inserting tiny surgical tools and a thin, lighted viewing instrument through a number of small incisions in your abdomen. The viewing instrument will project the inside view of your body onto a screen in the operating room, which will guide Dr. David Davtyan throughout the surgery. To perform the actual procedure, Dr. David Davtyan will surgically remove a special part of the stomach, leaving a portion that looks like a vertical tube or a “sleeve” and is smaller than a banana. The portion of your stomach that is removed is responsible for producing a hunger-stimulating hormone known as ghrelin. Once it’s gone, you’ll be able to control your hunger and reduce the amount of food you consume moving forward.

An overview of your recovery

After your gastric sleeve surgery, you will wake up in the hospital. Though you will be slightly groggy, you will not experience much pain. The majority of our patients need to spend one to two nights in the hospital after the procedure, so Dr. David Davtyan can monitor your progress and ensure your safety. From there, you will be able to complete your healing process from the comfort of your home. Because several incisions were made in your abdomen, you can expect to be sore for a few days following your procedure. However, this discomfort will be completely manageable with the medication prescribed by Dr. David Davtyan.

Other than allowing your body to physically heal, you’ll also need to re-learn how to eat with your new, smaller stomach. For the first week, you will adopt a liquid-only diet, before progressing to a soft-food diet of pureed foods for the next two weeks. Following this food plan is critical to your success, because it gives your stomach a chance to heal. Once you’re about three weeks into the recovery period, you’ll be able to start consuming solid foods again – but in much smaller portions than before. At this point, it’s really important to focus on portion control, eating slowly and chewing your food completely to avoid discomfort and any complications. Because this new way of eating will be permanent, Dr. David Davtyan and his team will offer guidance on how you can adjust to these changes during your follow-up appointments.

Benefits of the gastric sleeve surgery

Highly Effective

Gastric sleeve has proven to be very successful in helping patients control their hunger and reduce the amount of food they take in, ultimately allowing for rapid weight loss that can be maintained over the long-term.

Minimally-invasive.

Because sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure, you can look forward to a quick recovery and smaller scars when compared with other weight loss surgeries.

Your stomach will still function normally.

With gastric sleeve, your stomach will still be completely functional. That means you’ll still be able to eat normal foods, you’ll just have to be careful to consume smaller portions.

Low risk of malabsorption or protein wasting.

With gastric sleeve surgery, there is lower risk of dumping syndrome (weakness, sweating, palpitations, nausea, and abdominal discomfort), diarrhea, or the malabsorption with protein loss that is so frequently seen in Gastric Bypass.

Decreased hunger.

Hunger control is a challenge for many patients who struggle with obesity. With gastric bypass, you will experience decreased hunger – allowing you to achieve the weight loss you need.

Are you a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery?

To be considered an ideal candidate for among the best gastric sleeve Los Angeles has to offer, you'll need a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher along with at least one obesity-related condition that will improve as the result of your dramatic weight loss.